Ali on the Run Show Episode 55: Nick Symmonds

“I wanted to prove to everyone that all the sacrifices I’d made and dumb decisions I made were worth it.”

Nick Symmonds was a professional track and field athlete for 12 years, specializing in the 800 meters. He made two Olympic teams — the first when he was just 22 years old — and represented Team USA in Beijing and London. Nick, who lives in Eugene, OR, and is the CEO of Run Gum, retired from professional racing last year, and is now a proud, self-professed “hobby jogger.” He made his marathon debut at the 2017 Honolulu Marathon, and is now training to break three hours in the 26.2-mile distance this spring.

Here’s what you’ll get in this episode:

How Nick got into running (3:20)

When he realized he could make a career out of running and the life-changing training decision that launched his professional career (5:20)

Nick’s advice for mastering the 800m (8:45)

What it’s like competing at the Olympics (11:00)

When he was “the most nervous he’s ever been for a race” (12:35)

How Nick developed his mental strength and overcame “the rollercoaster of emotions” (14:00)

The sacrifices he made to become an Olympian (16:45)

How he made the decision to retire in 2017, and how he felt the day after his retirement (17:45)

Why he wanted to run a marathon (20:45)

Why he says the Boston Marathon pisses him off and “is B.S.” and that running it would be going against his core beliefs (26:00)

The Run Gum story (30:00)

What Nick sees as the biggest problems in professional track and field (35:00)

Nick’s take on doping in professional sports and lifetime bans (37:00)

The latest on Nick’s love life — plus how he ended up on a date with Paris Hilton (40:40)